Letters to the editor

Sunday

Nov 5, 2017 at 1:01 AM

GOP moderates need to speak up

Editor, the Tribune: As Republican leaders come out against President Trump, I wonder if the GOP as we knew it is gone for good. Where is the party of fiscal responsibility? Family values? Support for the military? It seems to be slowly disintegrating with each new tweet from Trump. Instead, we have unimaginable denigration of soldiers and their grieving families, no viable solution to healthcare, a proposed tax revision designed to benefit the wealthiest, new rules that lessen consumer protections from banking and other big businesses, and a federal deficit that is expected to grow by up to 50 percent.

If you are a moderate Republican, now is the time to join the growing number of voices and speak out against the current administration and their destructive rhetoric and policies. Call your legislators, senators and congress members. And vote for people who truly uphold our values.

Rosemary Feraldi, Columbia

Broadway TIF should not be approved

Editor, the Tribune: I have lived in Columbia for nearly 50 years now and until recently thought that the city government in Columbia was quite good. I no longer have a positive view of our city administration or of our City Council which seems to acquiesce to whatever the city administration proposes.

The latest issue to get my ire is the proposal to grant $2 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to the Broadway Hotel owner to help fund a second hotel tower. This coming at a time when virtually every tax-supported entity in the city and county is indicating how badly additional tax funds are needed and, incidentally, at a time when we are about to vote (on November 7) on a proposal to allow our city and county to impose a use tax on out-of-state purchases.

I congratulate the Columbia Board of Education on taking a negative position on this TIF request and instructing its representatives to the TIF Commission to vote no. The board quite correctly pointed out that granting this TIF request may result in lost tax revenues in the future. I can tell you that over the years I have always voted in favor of tax increases proposed by our city and county tax-supported entities. However, if this TIF request is ultimately approved, I will not again support a city, county, or public school tax increase proposal.

Ray Dockweiler, Columbia

Rep. Hartzler turned back on seniors

Editor, the Tribune: Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler turned her back on seniors in the district when she voted in support of the federal budget resolution that would cut Medicare by $487 billion and $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. Those cuts are part of a budget package that at the same time would give at least $1.5 trillion in tax breaks to the rich and corporations. Congresswoman Hartzler's vote to cut health care for tens of thousands of seniors in our district to provide huge tax cuts for her wealthy donors is disappointing but not surprising.

She and her colleagues in Congress know they are doing the wrong thing for seniors. That’s why they are trying to jam legislation to make cuts and provide tax breaks through Congress quickly through the same fast-track process that they used in trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act earlier this year. We can’t allow Congresswoman Hartzler to take our health care in order to give her big donors big tax breaks. Every senior should call her office now and ask her to oppose the tax breaks for the rich at the expense of our Medicaid and Medicare. Sincerely,

Randy Kiser, Columbia

Columbia already had vibrant art scene before Dali paintings

Editor, the Tribune: I am writing to comment on Saturday’s article about the Tiger Hotel’s recent acquisition of several works by Salvador Dali. In the front page caption Scott Gardener is quoted “I wish we had a bigger art community and more well-known artists coming here.” Well, duh. The Tiger Hotel is just blocks away from the Columbia Art League where you will find excellent art from talented homegrown artists.

Our city is rich in art history and offerings. Take a look at the Art League, the Sager and Montminy Galleries, Orr Street Studios, and many others — and you will find the children of Dali. The notion that great art is made somewhere else is specious. Think of George Caleb Bingham, Thomas Hart Benton, Fred Shane, and Tracy Montminy; as well as living Columbia treasures like Frank Stack, Byron Smith, David Spear, and Paul Jackson. I love Dali and welcome his work as an addition to an already vibrant scene.

Dennis Murphy, Columbia

Congrats Columbia College Lady Cougars soccer team

Editor, the Tribune: I would like to offer congratulations to the Columbia College Lady Cougars soccer team. They have finished the regular season with a 17-1 record and have won a fourth American Midwest conference title. They are currently ranked eighth in the nation for all NAIA schools. The Lady Cougars have scored 87 goals while allowing opponents only 5 goals and have had 15 shutouts. Most of the girls on the team are from Missouri with a few from Illinois, California and Kansas. Many of them are NAIA and AMC scholar athletes as well. Good luck to the Lady Cougars and Coach Klein as they begin the post season with the AMC tournament followed by NAIA Championships. I hope that the Tribune will recognize these athletes and give them the coverage that they deserve.

Kelly Gunter, Columbia

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